Adventure club closing

[Lord Fantasius]

Don't forget that "nightclub districts" nationwide have fallen in popularity. Rosie O'Grady's/Church Street Station, once "THE" night spot of Orlando is gone, Sunset Station in San Antonio is in trouble...the baby boomers kids have kids now, more "family oriented" entertainment will be popular for the next 10 years or so, then we may see a return to more "adult " themed venues. It is cyclitic.

And yet, Las Vegas is booming...and their attempt at being family-friendly bombed! Go figure...

I think with so many vacation options, and life "options" in general to fragment us, when people want to go on a family vacation, they want a family vacation, not a family-day-and-night-time-adult-vacation-in-one. In this respect, I think Disney, Inc., has decided that parents with children spend more money in one place over a given span of time than fast-paced trendy adults who are just looking to keep up with the latest in-your-face-entertainment venues.

O.k., I was one of those way back when that thought it was a bad idea for Disney to try to be everything for all people, so admittedly I won't be shedding a tear over this incarnation of Pleasure Island closing, if it does. Unfortunately, the one time I went to PI I had a bad experience (CM-appreciation night and alcohol do not mix!), though I did think AC was one of the better clubs at PI at the time.

So yes, it would be nice if they could incorporate the show and atmosphere of AC into another setting (possibly the AKL?); however, for all the other bars at PI, after a few drinks, the inside of one bar pretty much looks and acts like the inside of any other bar, so why is it so special to have to do it at Disney?

-R

 

[Jason71]

Don't forget that "nightclub districts" nationwide have fallen in popularity. Rosie O'Grady's/Church Street Station, once "THE" night spot of Orlando is gone, Sunset Station in San Antonio is in trouble...

I don't know, Citywalk still seems to get decent crowds, and I-Drive south of Sand Lake is undergoing somewhat of a nightlife rennaisance (Howl at the Moon just opened, Pointe Orlando--although still under construction--is beginning to look like they finally may get it right). By gutting PI, Disney will be giving a segment of their customer base incentive to go off property again, as was the case in the 70s/80s when Church St. Station became the #2 attraction in Florida, and they might regret it later.

BTW, I completely agree that the downfall of PI can be traced to removing the gates and turning the main drag into a hang-out for unsupervised teens (or, earlier in the evening, a highway for strollers).

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I sure hope it doesn't close...
But, a while back wasn't there a rumor about an AC type club moving into the Dance Hall at the BW?
That would be good. DTD could be all restaurants, and they could consolidate the best entertainment (AC & Jellyrolls) into the same area.

Not enough restaurants? Probably not, but what do you expect when the're giving away food...

MG

 

[YoHo]

It's been so long since I've been there, I didn't even know they took down the PI gates. What a stupid idea.

 

[disneyholic family]

I am waiting to hear from the "experts" how replacing live and unique entertainment options with chain dining is part of the Disney philosophy.

Still waiting...

it's part of the Disney cost cutting philosophy.....cutting costs by reducing the number of expensive human resources (the performers at the AC are very skilled and therefore costly)..
it's the same reason they did away with the Diamond Horseshoe Review, despite a multitude of petitions and protests.....it was a simple budgetary exercise.....
i suspect the elimination of NotreDame in MGM was for the same reason , even though it was claimed to be because of the new stunt show -- but the theatre is still there and they could both be held, just not simultaneously....
but it was a very expensive production.....

 

[TDC Nala]

cutting costs by reducing the number of expensive human resources (the performers at the AC are very skilled and therefore costly)

So are the performers at CW. Sometimes, they're the same performers. Why keep one and not the other? To cut in half the troupe of performers, or because of the anticipated "value" of the waterside real estate to restaurant chains?

 

[kimbamickey]

Question – why is attendance so low at the majority of the PI clubs? When I went in July of 2001 the place was hopping. Then, when I returned in August 2003 it seemed empty, and when I went last winter it seemed empty as well. I don’t understand it. I thoroughly enjoy both the Comedy Warehouse and Adventurer’s Club, but I also enjoy the dance clubs. I am in my twenties, and I still want to go out to dance. While PI may not be a family-type environment, I think it is good to have a place that adults can go to enjoy themselves. I am a DVC owner at SSR, and at the time of sale I was so excited because I knew the location was perfect for nights at PI. This news is quite disheartening for me. I love Disney for the variety of entertainment it offers to its guests. I will be very sad if this happens.

 

[catherine]

I don't know whether this has been posted already, apologies if it has! This is the latest from mouseplanet:

Pleasure Island Update
Last week, we ran a rumor that all buildings on the lake side of Pleasure Island would be demolished and replaced by themed restaurants operated by outside participants, inadvertently setting off alarm bells across the Internet among fans of the Adventurer's Club. We have now received conflicting information from another source that indicates that the Adventurer's Club, at least, will not be going anywhere. Again, we do not have confirmation either way from those inside the Team Disney building, so there's no guarantee that this better-informed source is the final word, or whether it's just the Adventurer's Club or all of the endangered buildings that are safe. However, due to the conflicting information, we're now going to stand down from red alert and switch to wait-and-see mode until we get final confirmation one way or the other. The information about the West End Stage, the Hub Stage and the fireworks being done for, though, is still solid. They will all be gone.

We apologize for stirring up the hornet's nest, though in all fairness we did make sure that it was labeled as rumor and not fact due to the lack of confirmation.

 

[Jason71]

Thanks for the good news, Catherine.

Can't say I'm shocked cost-cutting will kill the fireworks, and the stages are almost eyesores without dancers or live bands. Hopefully the "make-over" will bring in crowds (and $$) to keep AC and the rest of the clubs off the chopping block.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I hope it's true...

Save the Adventurers' Club!

MG

 

[Razor Roman]

I only discovered the Adventurer's club this past winter... I love the place

It would be sad to see it go, but it would also be sad to see the Beach Club go.. I spent many Thursday nights there on my college program... and I remember being jealous that my friend who was over 21 got his picture with Captain Morgan and his wenches, and I couldn't since I was only 20... LOL

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I guess you could make an economic argument for freeing up the waterfront property the AC sits on but...its very easy to make an argument for keeping it open. Plain and simple AC brings in foot traffic to see a show. That traffic may not buy a drink in the AC but it sure buys stuff elsewhere in PI.

Also they should observe Raglan Road...plenty of people were in there to listen to the music...and drink and snack as well as eat dinner. One would think that rather than shut down the AC you could close down whatever is next door and build an AC themed waterfront bar and restaurant that has comic actors/waiters in it and that would also let you easily walk into the AC itself.

 

[pirateparrot]

I have noticed a really stepped up p[olice presence at PI the last 3 or 4 times I have been down there. Was there a lot of trouble there that I was not aware of. When I see all those police cars and uniformed officers it makes me wonder about security. Maybe they should look at reducing the visable police presence and get more undercover security if they need it.

Just a thought.

 

[ryley26]

I'd hate to see A/C close but would love an ESPN zone. I think this is a security and up keep problems for the return their getting.

 

[sters]

Well, I know for me personally my visits to WDW will be ALOT less if they close down the AC. Many of my trips to WDW have been specifically to go there. Granted, my money is just a tiny speck of a drop in a buck to Disney, if even that, but I know there are at least a few more like me out there. So maybe together we'll make a full drop.

If the AC is closed, there will really be no place to go to at PI to just relax and have a drink and chat. The nice thing about the AC is that you can go in and enjoy the entertainment AND hold a conversation in it without yelling over the top of the music that thump thump thumps in most of the other clubs. I enjoy CW, but you get ushered out after each show and are dumped back out on the PI streets. And sure, they can use a few more restaurants but but again, you will be shuttled out after a certain amount of time. They are not meant for lingering. The AC gives people that option. A place to relax, have a drink, enjoy a show and chat with friends about all the fun they had during the day. They really should think twice about taking that away. (or three or four times...PLEASE!)

I couldn't agree more! It was the only reason to even GO to PI for us, since we aren't dancers and want a place to hang out and chat. AC is ORIGINAL and a unique. And correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there already several restaurants in Downtown Disney???

I'll be very sad to see AC close. Very sad.

 

[Trails End Server]

What has, IMO, ruined PI is the fact that all the foot traffic from Westside to Marketplace is now routed through PI...taking away the adult entertainment feel of the area. Adults are no longer as comfortable club hopping in the presence of kids, unsupervised underage kids are basically begging for adults to supply them with alcohol...just not a comfortable situation for anyone.

Agreed. When on my college program in 05, I use to pick up some extra hours working the door at Motions. This was shortly after they started letting people walk around there for free, and only pay ot get into the clubs. That was the number one complaint, but number two was the younger crowd. In less than nice words, many people would ask me, "Why are there 12 year olds running around in here?"

 

[Luv2Roam]

We were at PI last night until just after midnight. (No midnight fireworks Due to Mardi Gras??)
When in PI we just hop between the two comedy clubs. (After playing a few rounds of Pirates in DQ! )
We were held back from entering AC until just after 9 pm. A business group was holding their banquet in AC. NOW that would be a great meeting to attend! I think AC is a great place to hold a meeting for adult conventioneers.
Even with leaving just after midnight, I was surprised to see adults entering in with tots. (Not even teens, or pre-teens, but the pre school age.)

 

[Jason71]

We were at PI last night until just after midnight. (No midnight fireworks Due to Mardi Gras??)

Nope, due to budget cuts. Last fireworks show at PI was 12/31/05.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Good to know. Thx

 

[SnackyStacky]

For what it's worth:

http://jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1834